Eight free East Hampshire volunteering festivals start 21 August

Eight free volunteering festivals will run at community venues across East Hampshire from Friday 21 August to Saturday 26 September 2026. The opening event is at Grayshott Sports Pavilion from 6pm to 8pm on 21 August. All eight events are open to local residents who want to explore roles with charities, community groups, societies and clubs, with no entry charge or advance-booking requirement stated in the published information.

East Hampshire District Council is organising the series across Grayshott, Four Marks, Alton, Whitehill, Horndean, Liss, Petersfield and Froyle. Each festival will bring participating organisations into the community where they operate, giving visitors a local view of the available ways to volunteer rather than concentrating activity at a single district-wide venue.

Eight dates and venues across the district

The programme begins in Grayshott in August before moving to seven venues during September. Three festivals take place on Saturday 26 September, but at different times: the Liss and Petersfield sessions overlap, while the Froyle event begins in the evening.

A local way to compare volunteering roles

The festivals are intended to showcase opportunities rather than focus on one organisation or type of work. According to the council, participants will include organisations serving the whole of East Hampshire alongside charities, clubs, societies and community groups operating in individual towns and villages.

That mix should allow residents to compare opportunities connected to their interests, skills and available time in one visit. Councillor Adeel Shah, the council’s portfolio holder for community development and engagement, said the events would offer a close look at the volunteering roles available where people live.

“If you have some time to spare or are looking for a way to help people in your community, then volunteering is a rewarding and enriching way to go,” Shah said.

The council says the festival programme is part-funded through its Grow Up programme using the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

What to check before attending

Entry is free and the festivals are open to the public. The East Hampshire District Council notice, published on 10 August 2026, does not give advance-booking instructions, transport guidance or accessibility details. It also lists only a 6pm start for the Froyle Safari Supper, with no finishing time.

Residents can therefore choose the nearest venue or a date that suits their schedule, but anyone who needs accessibility or travel information should check the council’s event notice for any later updates. On the final day, the confirmed start times are 9am in Liss, 10am in Petersfield and 6pm in Froyle.

Source: East Hampshire District Council News